UK COVID-19 deaths rise to 36,675 after another 282 patients die

People walk past a coffee shop in London, Britain, May 17, 2020. Some restaurants, cafes and other catering shops in Britain have gradually resumed business with preventive measures like keeping social distancing after the British Government released a phased easing strategy from the novel coronavirus lockdown. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

Another 282 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Friday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 36,675, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Saturday.

The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

Meanwhile, 2,959 people have been confirmed positive for the virus, bringing the total confirmed cases in Britain to 257,154 as of Saturday morning.

Dr Jenny Harries, England's deputy chief medical officer, told the Downing Street briefing that deaths are starting to come down. "We will be looking to expect that to come down further," she said.

Encouragingly, Britain is also maintaining a downward trend in new confirmed cases, she said.

During the briefing, Shapps announced the government is investing 283 million pounds (344.3 million U.S. dollars) into the public transport system to increase both frequency and capacity of services while ensuring there is enough space on vehicles to allow for social distancing.

"We now have opportunity to use power of transport to improve longstanding national weaknesses," he said.

The transport secretary said the measures are "not just to get through (the crisis) but come out of the recovery stronger by permanently changing how we use transport".

"Transport is not just how we get from place to place, but it shapes the places," he said.

The funding would be divided into 254 million pounds (309 million dollars) for buses and 29 million pounds (35.3 million dollars) for trams and light rail, according to Shapps.

"The mission is to level up Britain," he said, "The COVID outbreak must be the catalyst for getting it done."